Hi there
I am due to be getting a new little labrador puppy within the next few weeks and would like to get prepared as much as possible beforehand.  Being new to dog ownership I have read and researched a lot but am getting very confused with regard to what I should and should not be doing.  For example which is better a cardboard box for the pup to sleep in v cage training? What is the best food for a lab particularly a 6 wk old puppy is there a big difference between dried foods and tinned?  Most importantly I have often seen puppies out at 8 weeks in the park etc but I thought that a puppy was not supposed to leave the home until it has had all its injections so how does this work?  Also at what stage can I begin to take her to training classes?  I am sorry for so many questions but I am really getting a little confused and could do with some great advice from Champdogs readers.  Also can anybody tell me is 15 an ok hip score?
Thanks so much in advance to anybody that can advise me.
 

Firstly - Calm down! lol

You will get lots of different views on what is best for your puppy, When we got Leo it was all very quick, for the first night he slept in a cardboard box at the side of our bed as we hadn't had time to get him anything else, and it was a very sleepless night for us because we kept checking if he was getting out of the box.
Usually now he sleeps in the kitchen on his soft bed, with some newspaper down and a stairgate to keep him in there, but he uses his crate when he is away from home. Crates can be very good for house training but it is really a case of what works best for you. Maybe get a second hand crate and see how you get on with that?
As for food, the breeder will probably give you a diet sheet and some food to take away, so you can start by feeding the pup on that and then if you want to feed something else you can gradually change it.
Leo's diet sheet said for lunch pedigree small bite mixer and puppy meat and for dinner he has pedigree complete, so he has a mixture of tinned and dried food and he loves it.

Injections are usually and 10 and 12 weeks, although i think some vets give them at 8 and 10 but most are 10 and 12 and you should not take your pup out until then, the vet will advise how long after the injections to wait.

Puppy classes im not too sure about but if you phone around the classes in your local area and go and have a look then i am sure they will be able to advise you.

You could have a look here http://www.thelabradorretrieverclub.co.uk/ about hip scoring and general info, i believe it says the average is 16? Although are you talking about your puppy? as Hip scoring isn't done until the dogs are 12 months old.

My pup is crate trained, the only time he is actually shut in though is at night and he whines to wake me up at about 5am if he wants to go out to pee.  When I am out he is shut in the kitchen using a baby gate. I have never put newspaper down for him he has been taught from day one that outside is the only place for toilet by putting newspaper down I feel it is telling him its ok to go indoors.  At 9 weeks old he asks to go out by whining at the door he also toilets on command ;) .  You have to keep an eye on your pup, put him out after waking/playing/eating, give him a command to go to the toilet and he will soon catch on.  My pup has only ever had a few accidents in the house and thats because I didnt read the signals that he needed to go, now he asks at the door :)

He was vaccinated at 8 weeks and started puppy playgroup the same week, the kennel club hold lists of training clubs in your area.  Take your pup out as much as possible to socialise him and get him used to different sights and sounds. 

A good book to read is "the perfect puppy" by gwen bailey

Good luck with your pup :)

Hi
I must admit I am not so keen on the idea of crate training but it does seem that this would be the best way of preventing too many little toilet accidents from happening.  Can anyone recommend a good type of crate at all? However as I am home all the time I can take her to the garden as often as she needs to go so then maybe a crate is not necessary I am not really sure which way to go!  Also do you think it is best to have her in our room when we first get her as I am sure she will be frightened her first few nights away from her family or is it best to start as you mean to go on and have her sleep in the study? 
Is is a good time to find a good vet now before we get her and is there anything in particular to look out for when searching for one?  Also what about insurance when do you insure your puppy?
Gosh sorry I just have so many questions but I am floundering!!!!
Thanks in advance to you all for your kind help
oh and something I am confused about if a pup should only have 5 mins exercise according to each month ie at 2 months 10 mins exercise would that be 10 mins exercise the whole day or 10 mins exercise a few times a day?

Hi Goat,
These are all questions that the breeder of your puppy should be be able to help you with, give them a call, I'm sure they'll be pleased to help. If they either can't or won't help with these sort of questions I'd be inclined to look elswhere for your puppy, even if it means waiting a bit longer and / or losing your deposit.

Cardboard boxes are great for puppies to sleep in. Lab pups are often very destructive, so a cardboard box will give them a first 'target' for their attentions. Just make sure you can get a ready supply! However, they dont contain the pup in the way a cage / crate does. Whether you get any benefit from a cage depends on where you are keeping your puppy and the way you use it. Please dont let it become a mini-prison. There have been loads of threads about cages on here, so have a search & you should get some answers (and differences of opinion!)

You really want to keep the pup on whatever food it has been reared on for the first few days - any RESPONSIBLE breeder will advise you on what food they have used, and how to transfer to your choice.

Tinned foods - your dog can live on it, but I dont know of any 'serious dog people' that use tinned food. Most of the brands of dry food will be fine for the average pet dog, just make sure it is tailored to the age and activity level of your dog.

I personally dont take my pups out until after the 'all-clear' time after the vaccinations - usually about 14 weeks old. However, mine get plenty of socialisation at home with various people and dogs. People on these boards have different ideas on this (& they probably all end up with perfectly nice dogs!)

Training classes - I would say that the less experienced the owner is, the earlier they should start classes. Most will welcome a puppy as soon as the vaccinations are complete, even if just for socialisation.

A 15 hip score is OK (but not brilliant) as long as the score is even from both sides and not concentrated in just a couple areas - you would need to see a copy of the score sheet to tell that.